Mark Keough - Montgomery County Judge Joins Houston's Morning News

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Six twenty two, our time here in just this morning.
I remember Beryl. You remember Beryl. Beryl came beryling through,
and you know it was super windy and super rainy,
but Beryl was not. At least at our house was
down a huge deal. Of course, we're very close to
the Montgomery County line where we live, unfortunately not in
Montgomery County, but so close I could almost throw a

(00:21):
ball and hit it. Marco joins us Montgomery County Judge.
You know, I heard some of your comments during our newscast, Judge,
and I get the impression that Montgomery County, first of all,
maybe did a quicker job than most anybody else in
recovering from that. Do you have any residents there they're
still waiting on any sort of help in regards to
the hurricane.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
We know FEMA issues are always an issue, and you
know that they go on sometimes. I'm telling you sometimes
it takes years. The government bureaucracy is incredible. But I
have to tell you, overall, we've been able to work
with our people, We've been able to do buyouts in
relationship to this, and have gotten a lot more downe
than a lot of others. And so I'm real proud

(01:04):
of our team that works on this. I will say
the biggest thing for us with Beryl had to do
with all the cleanup that took place and having the
difficulty of getting the various energy companies to work with us.
We eventually got to a place where because we had
prepared in advance, we got things done a whole lot
quicker than a lot of others. So I have to
tell you it was although it was difficult for everybody,

(01:25):
you know, we were on our game. So proud of
our emergency management team made you such a great job. Yeah,
I think we have moved in the right direction. Well,
it's good to hear.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
I think that just about everybody complained about the communication
problems with the utility companies and trying trying to get
that solved. Do you think that that has improved? Sin Spurrel,
where do you think that stands?

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Now?

Speaker 1 (01:45):
If another storm we're to hit Montgomery County?

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, you know, I had to say I was invited
to speak at the in the Texas Senate and also
in the House Representatives to give my view of what
I saw on the ground. I didn't get my information
from I didn't get from a newspapers, radio, none of that.
Just by having worked in our mergency management, having to
dealt with the different energy energy companies, and I'll tell

(02:09):
you a Centerpoint had some real difficult times in communication.
They had difficulty making communication with these foreign services when
I think fore On comes from other states and whatnot.
I will tell you since that time, I've met with
them numerous times and I believe that they have gotten
their stuff up to speed. Thank god, they're the largest
one in the area, and to have them out, you know,

(02:33):
so many of our people out for so long, it
was painful. I don't know if you're recall or not,
but I literally was going out to areas and was
on social media, was just screaming about trying to get communication,
trying to get things done. But I believe we have
met numerous times and I think they're on their game now.
They've included a new systems to be able to keep

(02:57):
track of power overages around the area. South Entergy they
do a great job. They did a great job during borough.
But you know they're not without their issues as well.
Mount Geroma County has got a lot of trees, man,
and the result of which is you bring a brig
win through here and the next thing, you know, you've
got lines down everywhere. But we were back up pretty quick.

(03:18):
And but we were we were prepared for this, you know.
We uh, we watched that line of the hurricane has
moved towards the coast. You know. The thing that I
came away with, probably more than anything, is that any entity,
any municipality, any political subdivision that is on the coast
that gets hit and says this caught us off guard,

(03:39):
Shame on them. That should never happen. No, we are
constantly paying attention to this stuff. So that's our position
on that.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
Anyway, I agree that everybody had plenty of that way. Yeah,
I want to I want to quickly ask you before
we let you go. I know that there's only so
much information if you know you can share, uh, but
we all we all heard about what happened in Brazoria
County with a Montgomery County mom and the incident shooting
her children. Have you learned anything new about that? Is
there anything you can share with us this morning on
how that investigation is going? Well?

Speaker 2 (04:10):
I have to tell you I've been in touch with
the sheriff on this, and there's a lot of which
I can't say, but I have to tell you Montgomery
County is here to help anytime we can, and when
we hear about these things, I want to tell you, man,
we are on it. We have a true culture of
deterrence up here. It means that that criminal can just
count on the fact that if we get involved, if

(04:31):
Bresoria contacts us, we are going to go after the
person who has committed to crime. We are known for that.
That's one of the reasons I believe we have such
great growth here is we have a safe environment and
our goal is to keep it safe. It's such a
shame what took place. I mean, it's just remarkable that
something like this could even take place. But nonetheless, I

(04:52):
will tell you we're on it for sure.

Speaker 1 (04:53):
All right, Mark, good year from me, sir, best of
luck in the election. That's Montgomery County Judge mar Cho
six twenty seven